Electrical cord plugs



Oct. 6, 1970 B. DEGAETANO ELECTRICAL CORD PLUGS Filed Feb. 12, 1968[NVE/WOR, BEN DEGAETANC) United States Patent Office 3,533,052 PatentedOct. 6, 1970 3,533,052 ELECTRICAL CORD PLUGS Ben Degaetano, 1 MeganLane, Armonk, N.Y. 10504 Filed Feb. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 707,914 Int. Cl.H01r 33/04 U.S. Cl. 339--195 1 Claim ABSTRACT ou THE DISCLOSURE Anelectrical cord plug or molded plastic having parallel metallicterminals projecting therefrom for connection with correspondingterminals of a mating socket, the plug being made safe for handling bychildren by the provision of an insulating sheath on a portion of eachterminal adjacent the plug body with which the sheaths are integralformations.

The present invention relates to the plug-and-socket type of electricalcord connections and more particularly to terminals anchored in andprojecting from the plug.

Of late, manufacturers have been incorporating various and sundrydevices in toys which are electrically operated, chiefly by flashlightbatteries. However, as these toys have grown in popularity so have theirstructure and operating mechanisms developed to such an extent thatbattery power does not suffice and is now being supplemented byplugfand-socket connection to the household power line circuit. This hasresulted in shock and accident to many children innocent of the dangerinvolved in handling such connections and which it is the main objectiveof the instant invention to prevent.

In the accomplishment of the aforesaid objective the projecting prong ofeach terminal is enclosed for substantially half its length within asheath of electrical insulating material and it is another object of theinvention that these sheaths be extensions from and an integral part ofthe plug body.

Another object of the invention is the provision of shoulders on theterminals, these shoulders functioning as stops to limit flow of plasticforming the sheaths.

A further and important object of the invention is to provide aplug-and-socket connection of the character described whereby contact ofa childs fingers will not be made with the outer uninsulated ends of theplug terminals during insertion of the latter into or their with drawalfrom the socket.

And, a still further object of the invention is the provision wherebythe outer surface of the sheaths is flush with the uninsulated portionsof the terminals.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent froma consideration of the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactoryembodiment of the invention is shown. However it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includesall such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit andscope of the invention and its appended claim.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the invention shown in association with theescutcheon plate of a wall socket.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on line 2--2 of FIG. 1 looking inthe direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a detail showing in edge view the metallic member of one ofthe plug terminals.

FIG. 4 is a face view of the terminal, as seen in FIG. 3, looking in thedirection of the arrows in FIG. 3, and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the invention shown in the bottom position ofthe mold in which it is formed.

In the drawing similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout thedifferent views.

Numeral .10 represents the escutcheon plate of the ordinary electricalwall socket, not shown, the plate in this instance being seen as mountedon a wall 11.

The plug body 12 of molded plastic may be of any preferredconfiguration, the illustrated embodiment of the invention showing itsymbolically as of generally rectangular shape with a flat surface 13 atone end and with its outer end 14 rounded. i

Extending from the rounded end 14 of the plug body 12.is the cord 15which provides the insulated covering for the separately insulatinglywrapped conductor wires 16, 16 the ends of which are stripped, clampedand soldered in the usual manner to overlapping flanges 17, 17 formed onthe inner ends of a pair of parallel terminals indicated at 18, 18, theflanges being chamfered as shown at 20 in FIGS. 3 and 4.

These terminals 18 are thin metal stampings, each of which also includesan elongated intermediate portion 19. At substantially midway of itslength the portion 19 is widened and offset transversely to provide ashoulder 21, the part extending beyond the shoulder, prong contactportion, being doubled upon itself to form a return bend 22. The thusreinforced ends of the terminal portions 19, with a part of theunreinforced portion, as will be explained, form the socket engagingprongs projecting in parallel relation from the at end face 13 of theplug body 12.

With reference now to FIG. .5 wherein a completely molded plastic plug,a fragmentary portion of which is shown in section, is shown in thelower portion 23 of the mold, the material intake sprug being indicatedat 24. Sufficient clearance is provided around that section of theterminal portions 19 between the shoulders 21 and the end face 13 of theplug body to permit a thin flow of plastic which ends at the shoulders21. In this manner an insulating sheath 25 integral with the body .12 ofthe plug encases each terminal 18 between its respective shoulder 21 andthe plugs end face.

It will be observed that the longitudinal center axis, of the foldedprong ends of the terminals 18 is coincident with that of the terminalportions 19, that the said folded ends and the sheaths 25 are flush witheach other and that their cross-sectional areas are consequently thesame. As a reinforcement to the sheaths they are formed with fillets 26at their juncture with the body 12 of the plug.

The proportions of the prong ends of the plug terminals are such that,with the incorporation of the sheaths 25, a simple, practical andvaluable safety plug for the purpose set forth has been provided, boththe plug and method of forming the sheaths being new and novel.

It shall also be noted that the terminals 18 may be provided withopenings or dimples in the covered area in order that a lbetter bondingmay be effected between the sheath portions 25 and the terminals 18.

What I claim is:

1. An electrical cord plug comprising, in combination, a molded plasticbody portion, at least two elongated metallic terminals projecting inparallel relation from said body portion, each of said terminals havinga width greater than its thickness and comprising an intermediateportion of reduced width and a contact portion at the free end of saidterminal, said contact portion being of greater width than saidintermediate portion and being doubled over upon itself and transverselyoffset for longitudinal axial alignment with the intermediate portion toform a shoulder spaced from said free end, and an insulating sheathformed integral with the plug body encasing the said terminalintermediate portion and abutting said 3 4 shoulder, said sheath beingsubstantially flush with the FOREIGN PATENTS terminal contact portion.1,472,242 1/1967 Franca References Cited KENNETH DoWNEY, PrimaryExaminer UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 US C1 XR 3,187,291 6/1965 Hime 339-196339 21g

